Hole through oil pan - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

MyDream55 · 03-08-2015, 11:06 PM

Hey guys,

I was out taking the truck for a cruise today and took it out on the highway. Truck was driving fine as I went for a 40 minute cruise. As I was heading home I hit like 75 mph and all of a sudden, boom, it was a plume of smoke and truck came to a halt.

I pulled over, looked under hood, and saw a hole on passenger side of oil pan. Looked on driver side and saw an even bigger hole thats probably as big as a soft ball. Passenger side had a golf size ball.

Anybody had this experience before or know what it could be. I've never seen this before.

Had my wife come tow me home, went to dinner, and didn't have time to look under hood yet. Don't know if I want to...lol

Thanks

Northern lights · 03-08-2015, 11:16 PM

Unfortunately, it sounds like it threw a rod.

MyDream55 · 03-08-2015, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Northern lights

Unfortunately, it sounds like it threw a rod.

Just one? Why did it come out of both sides?

Northern lights · 03-08-2015, 11:23 PM

Likely just one (not that it matters). Lots of stuff going round and round and back and forth when a bearing/rod/piston fails before everything slams to a halt.

MyDream55 · 03-08-2015, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Northern lights

Likely just one (not that it matters). Lots of stuff going round and round and back and forth when a bearing/rod/piston fails before everything slams to a halt.

Damn.. that's what I figured but not what I was hoping happened. SOB..

tmoble · 03-09-2015, 02:33 AM

what engine is it? Stock 6 cylinder?

solidaxel · 03-09-2015, 09:28 AM

We call that a picture window!
Sorry to hear that, if it was a I 6 and 75MPH on a old engine things get loose at those RPM's

mr48chev · 03-09-2015, 09:49 AM

I'd agree with Solidaxle 100% those engines don't like 75 mph and an old engine with old bearings stands a good chance of bearing failure when you stress it like that.

A fresh engine with a good smooth crank and fitted bearings you could probably do it but a well worn six of that vintage isn't going to handle it for long.

MyDream55 · 03-09-2015, 11:26 AM

Thanks for the replies. It was actually a 350 V8.. at the time I was probably doing 65mph..

mr48chev · 03-09-2015, 12:19 PM

They blow up good too. Probably pretty well worn before you got it.

Reminds me of when I was younger and my friend's dad insisted that he get a car that a little widow lady had in town because the dad insisted it was in perfect condition because "it had never been driven out of town or hot rodded". He wanted a local 55 Chevy that was known to have been driven pretty hard. Anyhow after about three weeks of driving around he took it out on the road and opened it up and blew the rods in the engine. When the pan came off the engine there was about two inches of sludge in the pan because in it's whole life the engine had never gotten fully warmed up. It got driven about 10 miles a week for 15 years and those miles were less than two at a time. Once to church and back, to the store on Wednesday, beauty shop on Thursday and garden club once a month was about it. The car got the oil changed about once a year and had a tune up once a year needed or not.
His dad still thought that any used car with highway miles wasn't any good and swore how perfect that car had been before my buddy "ruined" it.

Speedbumpauto · 03-09-2015, 01:04 PM

I beat a lot of small blocks in my time and was pretty convinced the only way to blow one up was to lose oil pressure. I did discover that eating a valve will cause it also.

MARTINSR · 03-09-2015, 03:57 PM

Good thing you had a SBC so you could fix it on the side of the road.......

Sorry, that's my odd engine lover side responding to everyone who tells me why they have a SBC in their car or truck.

Brian

_Ogre · 03-09-2015, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MARTINSR

Good thing you had a SBC so you could fix it on the side of the road.

with parts from kmart

OrrieG · 03-09-2015, 08:14 PM

Used to be the joke in the garage I worked at was every spark plug you found by the side of the road came from a SBC and had a piece of flesh burned on it from the guy that took it out without gloves and dropped it down somewhere to eventually rattle loose.

**LEEVON** · 03-09-2015, 08:17 PM

The last one I grenaded through the oil pan like that dropped a valve. Doesn't really matter what happened at this point your truck is going to need a new heart, sorry : (

gregg pellicer · 03-09-2015, 08:49 PM

You know that's the problem with chevy's. They dont have very strong oil pan's..

Highsider · 03-09-2015, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregg pellicer

You know that's the problem with chevy's. They dont have very strong oil pan's..

Good one.
Never heard that one, myself.

I like the fix on side of the road, too.

mr48chev · 03-10-2015, 12:06 AM

One never knows what causes an engine like that to blow up if you aren't abusing it but I'd sure like to see the photos of the pieces after you pull it down/

In the past I've seen the results of:

Driving an engine that sat for years and had acid etched bearings have bearing failure.
Rod nuts back off the rod bolts.
Gobs of red silicone plugging up the oil pickup screen (My brother's truck that he bought off a car lot).
Poorly assembled engine due to the assembler not knowing what he was dong.

Dirt getting into the crankcase and bearings because the owner thought it was cool to run without an air filter. That is one reason that the Ford and Mopar guys used to say a V8 Chevy was only good for 35K miles in the 60's when a lot of guys thought it was great to drive around without an aircleaner for that drag car feeling.
the
Most folks here know my history but if you don't I spent 13 years teaching auto mechanics after several years of working in shops in Texas and Washington. I even got tabbed with keeping the generators running for the scout platoon of A troop First Squadron 9th Cav 1st Air Cav in 1968 when the platoon leader figured out that I had mechanical training.

Even though I have been away from the trade and teaching for several years guys still bring stuff to me to figure out what went wrong with it.

Now pull that engine apart and lets see what caused it to blow up.

Sim6 · 03-10-2015, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregg pellicer

You know that's the problem with chevy's. They dont have very strong oil pan's..

Sim6 · 03-10-2015, 07:24 AM

Sorry for your loss Mydream55.

RanchTruck · 03-10-2015, 10:28 PM

Toast, time for a new engine. Question is, which one? You can buy a carb intake manifold for a newer L31 vortec 5.7 out of a 96-99 truck or 2002 van and drop it in place of the older 350 for a nice performance bump. They're cheap to get in junkyards and you could be back cruising soon.

MyDream55 · 03-15-2015, 02:34 AM

Haven't pulled it apart yet but here's some pics of oil pan.. Not one hole, but two!! SOB... any of you got a spare motor laying around??? lol

Sim6 · 03-15-2015, 07:54 AM

Man, looks violent.

mark '87 930 · 03-15-2015, 07:57 AM

wow, that is something! I am sorry to hear about your luck. I have a spare engine i just pulled out of my truck, New valve cover gaskets and it would be good to go... but i am in Canada and shipping to you would cost you the price of an engine for sure.

**Advanced Design** · 03-15-2015, 09:40 AM

Sorry about your engine. Have you considered a new one? Example...http://www.jegs.com/p/Chevrolet-Perf...52506/10002/-1

03-08-2015, 11:06 PM	#1
MyDream55 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 42	Hole through oil pan Hey guys, I was out taking the truck for a cruise today and took it out on the highway. Truck was driving fine as I went for a 40 minute cruise. As I was heading home I hit like 75 mph and all of a sudden, boom, it was a plume of smoke and truck came to a halt. I pulled over, looked under hood, and saw a hole on passenger side of oil pan. Looked on driver side and saw an even bigger hole thats probably as big as a soft ball. Passenger side had a golf size ball. Anybody had this experience before or know what it could be. I've never seen this before. Had my wife come tow me home, went to dinner, and didn't have time to look under hood yet. Don't know if I want to...lol Thanks

03-08-2015, 11:16 PM	#2
Northern lights Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Whitemud Alberta Posts: 328	Re: Hole through oil pan Unfortunately, it sounds like it threw a rod.

03-08-2015, 11:23 PM	#4
Northern lights Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Whitemud Alberta Posts: 328	Re: Hole through oil pan Likely just one (not that it matters). Lots of stuff going round and round and back and forth when a bearing/rod/piston fails before everything slams to a halt.

03-09-2015, 02:33 AM	#6
tmoble Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Glendale, Az Posts: 1,062	Re: Hole through oil pan what engine is it? Stock 6 cylinder?

03-09-2015, 09:28 AM	#7
solidaxel Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Cactus Patch So. Az Posts: 4,749	Re: Hole through oil pan We call that a picture window! Sorry to hear that, if it was a I 6 and 75MPH on a old engine things get loose at those RPM's __________________ 53 TuTone Extended Cab 350 4-Spd 3:08 (SOLD) 53 Chevy Moldy pearl green ZZ-4 4L60E 9" 3:25 55 GMC 1st Black Mll (ZZ4) ZZ6 TKO 600 5 sp 3:73 62 Solidaxle Corvette Roman Red (327 340hp 4spd 3:36) C4 & C5 suspension tube chassis LS 3 4L70E 65 Corvette Coupe 327 350hp 4spd 4:11 78 Black Silverado SWB (350/350) 5.3 & 4L60E 3:42 2000 S-Type 3.0 (wife cruiser) 2003 GMC SCSB 5.3 4L60E 3:42

03-09-2015, 09:49 AM	#8
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,286	Re: Hole through oil pan I'd agree with Solidaxle 100% those engines don't like 75 mph and an old engine with old bearings stands a good chance of bearing failure when you stress it like that. A fresh engine with a good smooth crank and fitted bearings you could probably do it but a well worn six of that vintage isn't going to handle it for long. __________________ Founding member of the too many projects, too little time and money club. My ongoing truck projects: 48 Chev 3100 that will run a 292 Six. 71 GMC 2500 that is getting a Cad 500 transplant. 77 C 30 dualie, 454, 4 speed with a 10 foot flatbed and hoist. It does the heavy work and hauls the projects around.

03-09-2015, 11:26 AM	#9
MyDream55 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 42	Re: Hole through oil pan Thanks for the replies. It was actually a 350 V8.. at the time I was probably doing 65mph..

03-09-2015, 12:19 PM	#10
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,286	Re: Hole through oil pan They blow up good too. Probably pretty well worn before you got it. Reminds me of when I was younger and my friend's dad insisted that he get a car that a little widow lady had in town because the dad insisted it was in perfect condition because "it had never been driven out of town or hot rodded". He wanted a local 55 Chevy that was known to have been driven pretty hard. Anyhow after about three weeks of driving around he took it out on the road and opened it up and blew the rods in the engine. When the pan came off the engine there was about two inches of sludge in the pan because in it's whole life the engine had never gotten fully warmed up. It got driven about 10 miles a week for 15 years and those miles were less than two at a time. Once to church and back, to the store on Wednesday, beauty shop on Thursday and garden club once a month was about it. The car got the oil changed about once a year and had a tune up once a year needed or not. His dad still thought that any used car with highway miles wasn't any good and swore how perfect that car had been before my buddy "ruined" it. __________________ Founding member of the too many projects, too little time and money club. My ongoing truck projects: 48 Chev 3100 that will run a 292 Six. 71 GMC 2500 that is getting a Cad 500 transplant. 77 C 30 dualie, 454, 4 speed with a 10 foot flatbed and hoist. It does the heavy work and hauls the projects around.

03-09-2015, 01:04 PM	#11
Speedbumpauto Registered User Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 917	Re: Hole through oil pan I beat a lot of small blocks in my time and was pretty convinced the only way to blow one up was to lose oil pressure. I did discover that eating a valve will cause it also.

03-09-2015, 03:57 PM	#12
MARTINSR Registered User Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Boise, Idaho Posts: 6,001	Re: Hole through oil pan Good thing you had a SBC so you could fix it on the side of the road....... Sorry, that's my odd engine lover side responding to everyone who tells me why they have a SBC in their car or truck. Brian __________________ 1948 Chevy pickup Chopped, Sectioned, 1953 Corvette 235 powered. Once was even 401 Buick mid engined with the carburetor right between the seats! Bought with paper route money in 1973 when I was 15. "Fan of most anything that moves human beings"

03-09-2015, 08:14 PM	#14
OrrieG Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Idaho Posts: 8,800	Re: Hole through oil pan Used to be the joke in the garage I worked at was every spark plug you found by the side of the road came from a SBC and had a piece of flesh burned on it from the guy that took it out without gloves and dropped it down somewhere to eventually rattle loose. __________________ 1959 Chevy Short Fleetside w/ 74 4WD drive train (current project) OrrieG Build Thread 1964 Chevelle Malibu w/ 355-350TH (daily driver) Helpful AD and TF Manual Site Old Car Manual Project

03-09-2015, 08:17 PM	#15
LEEVON Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Ozark, MO Posts: 4,887	Re: Hole through oil pan The last one I grenaded through the oil pan like that dropped a valve. Doesn't really matter what happened at this point your truck is going to need a new heart, sorry : ( __________________ '20 Silverado Trail Boss ~ '17 Tahoe ~ '79 K15 Sierra Grande ~ '76 Blazer 2wd ~ '71 Cheyenne swb ~ '55 Pontiac Safari ~'50 3100 bagged ~ '80 Wife ~ Late model kids

03-09-2015, 08:49 PM	#16
gregg pellicer Registered User Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: daytona beach,fl Posts: 17	Re: Hole through oil pan You know that's the problem with chevy's. They dont have very strong oil pan's..

03-10-2015, 12:06 AM	#18
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,286	Re: Hole through oil pan One never knows what causes an engine like that to blow up if you aren't abusing it but I'd sure like to see the photos of the pieces after you pull it down/ In the past I've seen the results of: Driving an engine that sat for years and had acid etched bearings have bearing failure. Rod nuts back off the rod bolts. Gobs of red silicone plugging up the oil pickup screen (My brother's truck that he bought off a car lot). Poorly assembled engine due to the assembler not knowing what he was dong. Dirt getting into the crankcase and bearings because the owner thought it was cool to run without an air filter. That is one reason that the Ford and Mopar guys used to say a V8 Chevy was only good for 35K miles in the 60's when a lot of guys thought it was great to drive around without an aircleaner for that drag car feeling. the Most folks here know my history but if you don't I spent 13 years teaching auto mechanics after several years of working in shops in Texas and Washington. I even got tabbed with keeping the generators running for the scout platoon of A troop First Squadron 9th Cav 1st Air Cav in 1968 when the platoon leader figured out that I had mechanical training. Even though I have been away from the trade and teaching for several years guys still bring stuff to me to figure out what went wrong with it. Now pull that engine apart and lets see what caused it to blow up. __________________ Founding member of the too many projects, too little time and money club. My ongoing truck projects: 48 Chev 3100 that will run a 292 Six. 71 GMC 2500 that is getting a Cad 500 transplant. 77 C 30 dualie, 454, 4 speed with a 10 foot flatbed and hoist. It does the heavy work and hauls the projects around.

03-10-2015, 07:24 AM	#20
Sim6 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Centerton, AR Posts: 433	Re: Hole through oil pan Sorry for your loss Mydream55.



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03-10-2015, 10:28 PM	#21
RanchTruck Registered User Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: NH or WY Posts: 33	Re: Hole through oil pan Toast, time for a new engine. Question is, which one? You can buy a carb intake manifold for a newer L31 vortec 5.7 out of a 96-99 truck or 2002 van and drop it in place of the older 350 for a nice performance bump. They're cheap to get in junkyards and you could be back cruising soon.

03-15-2015, 02:34 AM	#22
MyDream55 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 42	Re: Hole through oil pan Haven't pulled it apart yet but here's some pics of oil pan.. Not one hole, but two!! SOB... any of you got a spare motor laying around??? lol

03-15-2015, 07:54 AM	#23
Sim6 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Centerton, AR Posts: 433	Re: Hole through oil pan Man, looks violent.

03-15-2015, 07:57 AM	#24
mark '87 930 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 222	Re: Hole through oil pan wow, that is something! I am sorry to hear about your luck. I have a spare engine i just pulled out of my truck, New valve cover gaskets and it would be good to go... but i am in Canada and shipping to you would cost you the price of an engine for sure.

03-15-2015, 09:40 AM	#25
Advanced Design Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Oblong, Illinois Posts: 7,017	Re: Hole through oil pan Sorry about your engine. Have you considered a new one? Example...http://www.jegs.com/p/Chevrolet-Perf...52506/10002/-1 __________________ Doug Advanced Design’s 1977 Blazer Build Advanced Design's '48 'Burb Build Mrs Advanced Design's '72 Suburban Advanced Design's 56 BelAir LS swap

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